PHOENIX — The Suns took a stand, and a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.
Los Suns ganaron. That means the Suns won.
Amar’e Stoudemire had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Channing Frye made 5-of-6 3-pointers and Phoenix, wearing its orange “Los Suns” jerseys in part to protest Arizona’s new anti-immigration law, pulled away for a 110-102 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday night.
Steve Nash and Jason Richardson scored 19 points apiece and Grant Hill added 18 in a grind-it-out game played at the Spurs’ pace until the Suns started hitting 3-pointers. After starting 1-of-7 from long range, Phoenix made eight of its next 12.
Tim Duncan had 29 points and 10 rebounds and Richard Jefferson rebounded from a poor Game 1 with 18 points and 10 boards for San Antonio. Tony Parker added 20 points for the Spurs.
The best-of-seven series shifts to San Antonio for Game 3 on Friday night.
“I have to say the impressive thing to me with the win was the team effort,” Nash said. “So many guys made plays for our team tonight, and I can’t remember really being a part of a team that’s had so many guys step up and play well.”
Manu Ginobili, guarded mainly by Hill, was 2-of-8 from the field, including just 1-of-2 in the second half, but had 11 assists for San Antonio. Hill also made two big shots down the stretch.
“Grant Hill never ceases to amaze me,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “There’s a 37-year-old — he hates when I say that. Here’s a guy who plays on our team that’s been in the league for a long, long time. He just does a good job. Everything we ask him to do, never complains. He’s always on the best perimeter player. He never complains. He just plays. He’ll forever be my favorite player. He really will.”
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich singled out Frye.
“He might have had one that was open, but the rest were contested,” Popovich said. “When he does that, they’re very, very difficult to guard.”
The Spurs outshot Phoenix 51 percent to 42 percent but the Suns outrebounded taller San Antonio 49-37 — 18-7 on the offensive boards. Stoudemire made just 5-of-16 shots but was 11-of-13 at the free-throw line. The Suns outscored the Spurs by 14 at the line, going 29-of-37 to San Antonio’s 15-of-22.
